Churches, bars, beaches and border remain closed

WHILE roadside food stalls, such as doubles vendors, will regain their status as essential on Monday, typical public gathering spots and non-essential stores, schools, places of worship and bars will remain closed, the prime minister has announced.

At the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, on Saturday, the prime minister said roll-back measures will begin on Monday, but will be done cautiously and with strict limitations.

He used the example of tyre shops as being among the businesses which are not yet deemed essential under the first phase of a plan (initially three phases) to roll-back on lockdown measures.

Restrictions will be further relaxed on May 24, the prime minister said, if figures of people infected with covid19 remain mostly unchanged.

From Monday, food places will be allowed to open until 8 pm and must enforce social distancing measures. Hardware stores have also been given the green light to open daily up to 4 pm. They were previously able to open until noon and ordered closed on Sundays.

Among the other businesses and public places which remain closed are beaches, rivers, gyms, shopping malls, variety stores, public parks, nail salons, night clubs, NLCB Lotto booths and casinos, and all other activities that involve public gathering. Restaurant dine-in restrictions remain in effect.

Hairdressers and related business will potentially re-open late next month, following the third phase.